More than half a million people living in London have been celebrating Diwali and the Hindu new year in the last few days. Known as the festival of lights, Diwali celebrates the spiritual triumph of light over darkness, and good over evil. It lasts for five days and is observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.
At BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, better known as Neasden Temple, the Diwali celebrations fell on Sunday 8 November 2026, with the Hindu New Year on Tuesday 10 November 2026 (BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir 2026). The temple is at Pramukh Swami Road, Neasden, London NW10 8HW, and entry is free for people of all faiths and backgrounds (BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir 2026).
Thousands of devotees and visitors from across London and beyond gathered to mark the Hindu ‘Festival of Light’ in an uplifting atmosphere filled with devotion, colour, and community spirit. The celebrations blended sacred rituals with cultural expressions, creating a truly memorable and inclusive experience of light, hope, and harmony.
A feast of food offerings was on display at the many altars of the temple. They are later shared between devotees and visitors, and distributed after the festival ends to the sizeable local Hindu community, the largest in the capital. The building, a masterpiece of traditional Hindu design and exquisite Indian workmanship, was adorned with dazzling decorations, transforming the complex into a visual celebration of Diwali’s joyful message.
Music was played and prayers were offered. Those unable to attend in person could follow the evening arti, streamed live each evening from 6.35pm to 7.20pm (BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir 2026).
The temple’s links to royalty are also recent: King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited to mark the Mandir’s 30th anniversary, coinciding with Diwali and the Hindu New Year in 2025 (BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir 2026).
Neasden Temple (BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir)
Pramukh Swami Road, Neasden, London NW10 8HW
Open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm. Allow 2 hours for a visit. Free entry.
www.neasdentemple.org
Reference list
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir 2026, Home, Neasden Temple, viewed 11 November 2026, https://www.neasdentemple.org/.
Images courtesy of Julio Etchart © Julio Etchart
